INTEGRATED AND ORGANIC APPLE PRODUCTION

Implementation of Integrated apple production provides high yields of high quality and health safe fruits. If compared to the conventional fruit production, integrated production is environmentally acceptable because it sets specific approach to plant protection, nutrition and production technology. In order to provide apple export on European market, implementation of integrated production in Serbia is needed on the large scale. The paper presents integrated apple production on the plantation of "Atos Fructum“ company, located in Mala Remeta on Fruska Gora. Integrated fruit production allows strictly controlled application of synthetic chemicals, which are listed in Guidelines for integrated pome production (AGRIOS). On contrary, application of any synthetic chemicals in organic apple production is not allowed. Such approach eliminates any potential risk of chemicals
application to the environment. Organic production principles point out the importance of apple cultivars with genetic resistance to pests and diseases. Since organic apple production in Serbia is very limited, the purpose of the paper is to point out the importance of organic concept and review its basic principles.